Apparatus for modifying air.



W. A. FAIRBURN. APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING AIR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31, 1913. gflglg Patented Feb.,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET}.

eia di WITNESSES:

W. A. PAIRBURN. APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING AIR.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 31. 1913.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

% QJM A ATTORNEY.

W. A. FAIRBURN.

APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING AIR. APPLICATION FILED 0013.31. 1913.

1,127,419. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES:

A TTORNEY.

W. A. FAIRBURN. APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING AIR. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 31. 1913.

1,127,419. Patented Feb.9, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

l/WEIVTOH:

WITNESSES:

v ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATEiLATENT oFFicE.

WILLIAM A. FAIRBURN, OF SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Application filed October 31, 1913.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM A. FAIR- BURN, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Short Hills, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Modifying Air, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for modifying air as to its hygroinetric condition.. It has reference, more especially, .to means whereby atmospheric air may be either humidified or dchumidified to adapt it to specific requirements, as. for example, the drying and tempering of the composition heads of friction matches.

In the preferred form of embodiment of my invention herein illustrated, humidifying and dehun'iidifying structures are associated, and provisions are afforded whereby atmospheric air may be subjected to the ac tion of either or both structures, as desired, preparatory to the introduction of the air to the match room, &c. The dehumidifying structure possesses important features of construction and operation whereby the-incoming air is subjected to the efficient action of progressing dehydrating material, such,

. for example, as calcium chlorid.

The invention also comprises various other novel features of construction and combinations of parts wliercbv advantages are secured, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

II the drawings-Figure 1 is a horizontal section through an air-modifying apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the air dehumidifying structure, as on the line Q--2 of Fig.1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. partly in vertical section, of the dehuinidifying structure? Fig. skis a perspective view of a portion of the endless conveyer and its stationary perforated bed. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a modified form of the endless conveyor wherein the bed is constituted by the bottoms of hingedly connected link receptacles.

4: designates the air-humidifying structure: 5 the air-dehumidifying structure; 6 an air trunk or conduit leading to the match room, or other place to be supplied with the conditioned air; 7 an exhaust fan in said Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 798.484.

trunk or conduit, and 8 a valve whereby either or both structures may be placed in comn'iunication with the trunk or conduit as the hygroniet'ric condition of the atmosphere ma y require.

I The humidifying structure in the form illustrated comprises a capacious casin within which is contained a series of verti (fillLY-tllSPOSCLl vapor. spray or atomizing nozzles 10. To the action of the vapor. &c.. projected from these nozzles the air'is sub- Jected in its passage through the casing. :1 he outer side of the casing is open for the ingress of air, and the opposite side. is provided with a tapering outlet portion 11 leading to the air trunk or conduit (3. The inlet is preferably furnished with a wire screen or netting 12 to preclude the entrance of foreign matter to the interior of the casing.

The dehumidifying structure in the form illustrated comprises a rectangular casing open on its outer side for the inflow of air, and provided on its opposite side with a tapering outlet portion 13 leading'to the air-trunk or conduit. The outlets of the two structures diverge toward the air trunk and the valve 8 is pivoted at the juncture of the outlets so that the latter may be opened or closed, as almve-mentioned. The inlet of the dehiunidifying structure is also preferably furnished with a protective screen or netting 11.

Supported within the dehumidifying chamber in spaced relation to each other are horizontal beds 15 which are adapted to receive calcium chlorid, or other dehydrating material; and means are provided whereby said material is slowly moved along the respective beds in such a manner that the air in its travel through the chamber is subjected to the efficient dehydrating action of the material. In the present instance the progress of the material along the respective beds is accomplished by endless conveyers. each of which comprises a series of spaced blades 16 carried by parallel chains 17 passing about sprocket wheels 18 on transverse shafts 19 journaled in bearings in the frame posts 20 of the structure 5. As most clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, thebeds are arranged in staggered relation to each other, and the successive conveyors are arranged to travel in opposite directions to each other, whereby material delivered to one bed is carried along thereon and discharged therefrom upon the receiving end of the next succeeding bed and then advanced to the opposite end of the latter and discharged upon the receiving end of thc'next bed, and so on.

Any suitable means for actuating the conveyersmay be employed. In the present illustration the shafts 19 at one end of the structure 5 are extended outward and the extensions are equi ped with bevel wheels 21 which mesh wit similar wheels 22 on short shafts 23 journaled 'in bearing 2 brackets 24 on the adjacent post 20. The

bevel gear wheels of the successive shafts are oppositely-disposed in order that when the shafts 23 are concurrently driven in the same direction the successive conveyer shafts 19 are driven in opposite directions to eachother. The shafts 23 bear friction disks 25 with the faces of'which respectively co-act friction wheels 26 on a vertical driV- justed in'respect to the disks, and the relative speed of the conveyers, or any of them,

may be varied as the relative velocity and the temperature and comparative humidity of the incoming air, at the different planes or levels, may require."

As a simple and eificient means to direct the incoming air to and across the paths of the progressing dehydrating material on the respective beds; I provideinclined deflecting surfaces 31 at'the inlet portion of the chamber, and I also preferably continue the lower surface member across the chamber,.

as at 32, and bend it upward, as at 33, at the exit portion of the chamber. I also preferably provide the lower member with depending walls 34: which extend to or near to the path of the conveyor blades, and also with a series-of inclined deflectors 35. Thus the incoming air is caused to flow in direct contact with and in proximity to the slowly progressing dehydrating material on the respective beds. a

The beds are preferably foraminated, as indicated at 36, in order to'permit the liquefied material on the beds to escape therefrom into drip pans 37 beneath the beds,

which pans are connected by means of pipes 38 with a common discharge pipe 39. Adjacent 'the discharge end of the lowermost may be independently adhopper (not shown). Each of these feedpassages is furnished preferably with 21 vibratory transversely-toothed bottom 42 by the action of which the material can be freely delivered. The bottom is provided on its under side with a bracket 43 to which is pivotally connected the rod 44 of an eccentric 45 loosely mounted on a power driven shaft 46. This shaft is equipped with a suitable clutch &7 by actuation of which the eccentric head may be made fast or loose on the shaft, as desired. Thus any or all of the feed devices may be rendered active or idle as the requirements of the incoming air may demand.

I preferably cover the mouth of the discharge opening of the dehumidifying chamber with wire netting 48, or the like, in order to preclude the accidental passage of the dehydrating material to the fan.

If desired the conveyer. may comprise an endless chain of hingedly connected linklike receptacles having perforated bottoms, as illustrated in Fig. 5, in which case, of course, the stationary bed will be omitted.

I claim- V 1. In an apparatus for modifying air, an air humidifying structure comprising a chamber having va or or spray devices therein, an air de umidifying structure comprising a chamber adapted to contain dehydrating material, a common'air outlet for the two chambers, and valve means for determining the communication of the re spective chambers with said outlet;

2. In an apparatus for modifying air, a structure comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet portions, deflecting surfaces arranged within said casing to'deflect the air along different horizontal paths, and means for progressively feeding dehydrating material across the paths of, the air flowing through said structure.

3. In an apparatus for modifying air, a

structure comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet portions, means for rogressively feeding dehydrating materia in different horizontal planesin the path of the air flowing through said structure, and

air-deflecting surfaces alternating with said feeding means.

4. In an apparatus for modifying air, a

structure comprising a casing having air inlet and air outlet portions, means for pro-' gr'essively feeding dehydrating material in maaam different horizontal planes in the path of the air flowing through said structure, and means for independently re ulating the speed at which the material is fed in the respective planes.

5. In an apparatus for modifying air, a

inlet 'and outlet portions, means modif ing air, a avmg air for progressively feeding dehydrating material in' different horizontal planes within the casing, drains beneath the respective feeding means, and means whereby the inflowing air is directed to and across the path of said material. I

7. In an apparatus for modifying air, a structure comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet portions, and feeding means including a series of superposed endless conveyers for progressively feeding dehydrating material across the'path of the air flowing through said structure, and air deflecting surfaces alternating with said conveyer.

8. In an apparatus for modif 'ing air, a structure comprising a casing aving air inlet and out-let portions, feeding means including a series of superposed endless con- 'eyers for progressively feeding dehydrating material across the path of the air flowing through said structure, and means for supplying said material to alternate conveyers.

-9. In an apparatus for modifying air, a structure comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet portions, feeding means including an endless conveyer for progressively feeding dehydrating material through said structure, a drain beneath said conveyer, and means whereby the inflowing air is directed to and across the path of the said material.

10. In an apparatus for modifying air, a structure comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet portions, feeding means including a series of superposed endless conveyers for progressively feeding dehydrating material within said structure, and defleeting surfaces arranged to deflect the intlowing air to and across the paths of the material on said conveyers.

11. In an apparatus for modifying air, a structure comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet portions, feeding meansineluding ase'ries of superposed endless conveyers for progressively feeding dehydrating material Within said structure, means for supplying said material to the convey- .ers, drains beneath the respective conveyers, and a common discharge passage for said drains.

12. In an apparatus for modifying air, a structure comprising a casing having air inlet and outlet portions, a perforated bed within said casing, a conveyer traversing said bed, means for supplying dehydrating material to said bed, and a drain beneath said bed.

13. In an apparatus for modifying air, a structurecomprising a casing having an air inlet and outlet, a series of perforated beds arranged one above another in staggered re-- lation to each other, conveyers traversing the said beds successively in opposite directions to each other, means for supplying dehydrating material to a bed or beds, and drains beneath the respective beds.

Signed at New York in the county and State of New-York this 30th day of October A. D. 1913.

, WILLIAM A. FAIRBURN. Witnesses:

B. CHANDLER SNEAD, Rosco]; C. Peon. 

